Tiny Webs on a Houseplant: Spider Mites

Causes and how to tell them apart

1. Fine webbing on leaves and stems[1][2]

   How to tell: Very fine webbing on leaves and stems. It shows up once mite numbers are big enough, so a lack of webbing does not rule mites out.

2. Speckled or stippled leaves[1][3]

   How to tell: Light damage looks like very tiny yellowish-green spots. Heavy damage turns leaves greenish-yellow and then tan or brown.

3. Specks that move on white paper[4]

   How to tell: Tap a leaf over a piece of paper. Tiny specks that move around on the paper are mites, which tells them apart from dust or plain leaf damage.

4. Warm, dry conditions that favor mites[5][1]

   How to tell: Mites thrive in dry, warm conditions, so webbing in a hot, dry room with low humidity makes mites more likely.

What to do, step by step

1. Confirm first. Tap leaves over paper and look for tiny specks that move.[4]
2. Decide if the plant is worth saving. A heavily infested plant is best discarded.[6][1]
3. Wash small populations off with a forceful spray of water, outdoors or in a bathtub, and focus on the leaf undersides.[6][1]
4. Keep quarantining and rinsing on a regular schedule, and keep the plant watered and fertilized so it can cope with feeding damage.[1][6]
5. If needed, use insecticidal soap or a miticide made for houseplants. Do not use dish soap. Follow the label.[3][6]

How to prevent it

• Raise humidity by resting pots on (not in) pebble-and-water-filled trays, or by daily misting.[1]
• Quarantine new or infested plants for about a month before putting them near other houseplants.[1]
• Keep plants watered and fertilized so they stay vigorous.[6]